Vent plug for storage batteries



1933. c. J. DUNZWEILER ,8 8,

VENT PLUG FOR STORAGE BATTERIES Filed Aug. 15, 1928 ATTORNEYS Patented Feb. 21, 1933 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFIC CARL J. DUNZWEILEB, OI CLEVELAND, OHIO, ASSIGNOB T0 WILLARD STORAGE BLT- TEBY comm, O1 CLEVELAND, OHIO, A' CORPORATION OF WEST VIRGINIA.

VENT PLUG FOE STORAGE BATTERIES Application filed August 15, 1928. Serial No. 299,776.

This invention relates to vent plugs for storage batteries and has for its chiefobject to provide a vent plug which permits rapid filling of the battery and which reduces to a minimum the amount of electrolyte carried to the top of the battery cell by gas bubbles.

Further, the invention aims to provide a vent plug of the funnel type wherein provision is made for the escape of gas though the funnel is filled to the top in adding water to the cell.

The invention may bebriefly summarized as consisting in certain novel details of construction and combinations and arrangements of parts which will be described in the specification and set forth in the appended claims.

In the accompanying sheet of drawing, wherein I have illustrated the preferred construction of my improved vent plug, Fig. 1 is a top plan view of a portion of a battery showing the vent plug in plan; Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view of the same, the section being taken substantially along the line 2-2 of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view of the plug removed from the cell cover, the section bein taken substantially along the line 3-3 of ig. 1; Fig. 4 is a top plan view of the outer funnel member of the plug, with the inner funnel member removed; Fig. 5 is a vertical sectional view of the inner funnel member of the plug removed from the outer funnel member; and Fig. 6 is a transverse sectional view substantially along the line 6-6 of Fig. 3.

The batteries to which my improved vent plugs are attached may have any number of cells, it being understood that a vent plu such as herein described is provided for eac cell. Furthermore, the construction of the a battery, aside from the vent plug, is in general immaterial. In this instance, I have illustrated one cell only o: E the-battery, which includes a jar or casmg- 10 which is generally of the multicompartment type, formed of suitable acidresistant material, such as rubber, bituminous composition, glass or the like. My invention lends itself very effectively to storage batteries having glass jars or containers inasmuch as the transparent wall admits of the rapid filling of any cell in the batter since the electrolyte le el can be observed t rou h the wall while the water is being rapi y poured into the vent plug.

, The battery element in the cell is designated. asa whole by the reference character 11, this'element havin ,as usual positive and negative posts 12 which extend u through the cover 13, which is generally ormed of rubber and is fitted into the to of the cell compartment of the jar 10, and is sealed in place in the usual manner. The posts 12 may be sealed in the cover in any desired manner, sealing sleeves 14 being here shown.

At the center of the cover between the posts, I provlde my improved vent l'ug which is preferably of the double funne type, as most clearly shown in Figs. 2 and 3, this vent plug having an outer member 15 and an inner member 16, both generall of funnel shape. For convenience of manu acture, the two members 15 and 16 are formed separately, but in the plug assembly as used, the two members" are fitted tightly together so as to in effect consti- 75 tute a single piece, the top of the inner memher having a flanged or somewhat thickened portion 17 which is substantially-cylindrical inshape fitted into the annular top portion of the outer member, an internal annular shoulder 18 being provided which serves as a stop to support or limit the inward movement of the inner funnel 16. The two parts of the plug are formed of suitable acidresistant material, preferably rubber.

The outer member is provided about midway of the top and bottom thereof with an externally threaded portion 19 engaging a threaded opening formed in the cover so that the vent plug will project both "above and below the cover, as illustrated in Fig. 2.

The inner member 16 has a wide mouthed, funnel-shaped filling opening 20 at the bottom of which is a substantially cylindrical extension 21 terminating in a closed, pointed end 22 which is located somewhat near the middle ofthe plug. At the bottom of the glylindrical portion 21 and immediately above e pointed end 22, openings 23 are provided chamber for the gas P E for the passage of water to the inner funnel member when the cell is being filled.

The outer funnel member 15 is provided around the pointed end 22 of the inner funnel member 16 with a tapered wall 24 beneath which is a cylindrical extension 25 which terminates in a closed, pointed end 26. Immediately above the end 26 are openings 27 through which the water passin from the inner funnel member into the ho low cylindrical extension 25 passes into the battery.

With this construction there is formed between the lower depending part of the inner funnel member 16 and the surroundin wall of the outer funnel member 15 a cham r 28 which may be aptly termed a condensing bubbles tending to pass out throu h the The main inlet to this chamber or the as bubbles is formed by a series of vertica ly disposed o enin s 29 which extend up through a sho dere portion 30 of the outer funnel member 15 at the top of the cylindrical extension 25, the upper ends of these openings bein at the top of the tapered portion '24. T e gas bubbles enter the chamber 28 principally through the o enings 29 and are broken in this chamber, t e electrolyte brought up by the bubbles draining back into the cell principally by way of the openings 27, while the as is permitted to escape through a series 0 openings 31 at the top of the plug, these openings being referably formed in the outer wall of the anged or thickened top portion 17 of the inner funnel member 16. The upper ends of these openings 31 are preferably at the very to of the funnel 20 and at least one of them, esignated 31,'is carried upwardl by a guard wall 31 to the extreme top 0 the funnel 20 or of the plug as a whole so that the escape of gas is not prevented even though the funnel 20 is filled with water to its very In practice, water is poured into the upper funne 20 and drains down through the openings 23 into the outer funnel member and passes by way of the openings 27 near the ottom thereof into the cell. At the same time gas may pass upwardly into the condensing chamber 28 by way of the o enings 29 and may escape from the top of t e plug by way of openings 31 or by way of the opening 31 alone for such a time as the funnel is entirely filled with water. In other words, the filling of the cell with water and the escape of gas take place through the plug more or less independently and without either afiecting the other. That is to say, the filling operation does not prevent the escape of as nor can pressure build up in the cell am? prevent the entranceof water in filling the cell even though the water is poured into the funnel rapidly enough to completely fill it. This in practice has been found to be a very important feature, as rapid fillingof .is poured into the mouth of the filling the cells is highly desirable in plants where the batter uipment involves a very large number 0 cc as for example in lants of large telephone systems. By providing lar e water capacity at the top 0 the plug, t e attendant need pay little attention to the rate at which water is poured into the funnel and determines the amount of water which is supplied by watching the rise of the electrolyte level through the trans arent wall of the jar when the ar is forme of transparent material. It might be stated that the capacity of the outlet openings 23 is such that, regardless of the rate at which water funnel,

art of the plug will not 11 u to the as inlet openings 29. It will be understoo also that the number and size of the openings 31, 23, 27 and 29 may be varied as desired to obtain the best results in filling and ventin In addition to the advantages above enumerated, practice has demonstrated the fact that the as bubbles are broken in the condensing c amber 28. and that very little if any electrol te is carried to the to of the battery. I nd that the breaking o the gas bubbles short of the top of the plug is enhanced by providing around the lower extension 25 of the outer funnel member 15 a flange 32 providedon the under side of the cover. While this flange is preferably employed, I do not regard it as essential to the effectiveness of this improved plug.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. A combined vent and filler plug for storage batteries comprising a hollow outer element, and a hollow inner element telescoping into said outer element so as to provide a chamber intermediate said elements, said inner element having a passage therethrough with a funnel-shaped portion adjacent the upper end thereof, said outer element being formed with an enlarged upper end and a reduced lower end and a portion intermediate said ends adapted for engagement in the cover opening of a storage battery, said outer element also being provided with a plurality of passages extending through the wall thereof and communicating with said chamber, one of said passages being insaid reduced lower end and another in said intermediate portion, and one of said elements being provided with a vent passage at the top thereof leading to atmosphere from the upper portion of said chamber, said vent passage extending through the enlarged open end of the outer element and by-passing the funnel-shaped passage in said inner element.

2. A combined vent and filler plug for storage batteries comprising an outer element having a portion intermediate its ends for engagement in the cover opening of a battery,

the lower and an inner element telescopin into said outer element so as to provide a c amber be tween said elements, said inner element having a passage therethrough with a-funnelshaped portion adjacent the upper end thereof, one of said elements being rovided with a passage leading to atmosp ere from the top of said chamber, said passage extending through the enlarged open end of the outer element and by; assing said last mentioned passage, and each or said elements being provided with a passage located at the lower end thereof and communicating with said chamber, and said outer element being also provided intermediate its ends'with a pas sziige extending through the wall thereof and a ording communication between the interior 01 said battery and said chamber.

3. In a combined vent and filling plug for storage batteries, a pair of cooperating ele ments adapted to fit together so as to provide a chamber therebetween. one of said elements havin a funnel-shaped cavit open at the upper end thereof, and having jacent the lower end of said cavity a passage communicating with said chamber, the other of said elements having a plurality of passages extending through the wall thereof and adapted to connect said chamber with the interior of a battery cell, one of said passages being positioned adjacent the lower end of said member, the other of said passages being positioned intermediate the top and bottom of said chamber, one of said members being provided with a vent passage leadin from the upper portion of said chamber, an means to prevent communication between said vent passage and the funnel-shaped cavity.

In testimony whereof, I hereunto aflix my signature.

CARL J. DUNZWEILER. 

